Tanker

Fuel Systems

The 111 000 kg (245 000 lb) fuel capacity of the A330 MRTT enables the aircraft to perform its AAR Mission without any additional fuel tank.

The fuel is carried in six tanks each formed as an integral part of the standard A330-200 structure:

An inner and outer tank in each wing
A tank in the wing centre section
A trim tank in the horizontal stabilizer

There is an optional capability available for the A330 MRTT to carry two types of fuel so that it can refuel aircraft using different fuel types during the same mission.

The A330 wing is large enough to hold all the fuel needed to make the A330 MRTT a high performing tanker without impairing the fuselage capacity to carry passengers and/or cargo.

Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS)

The ARBS has been designed by Airbus Military to refuel receptacle-equipped receivers such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35A Lighting II or the A330 MRTT itself (when equipped with an UARRSI).

Located underneath the rear fuselage of the tanker aircraft, the boom mast is remotely controlled from an Air Refuelling Console in the flight deck, where an Air Refuelling Operator uses an advanced technology 2D/3D high definition/digital Enhanced Vision System. Adverse weather, day or night refuelling can be performed, thanks to its stereoscopic vision and laser based infrared lighting systems. This gives safer operation and a reduced workload for the Air Refuelling Operator, while enabling the tanker crew to be located together in the flight deck.

The ARBS is equipped with an all electrical, full fly-by-wire flight control system. It is provided with an automatic load alleviation system, and has autonomous disconnect for the receiver and the tanker, and has been designed under the dual redundant architecture (fail operational, fail safe). Secure communication is possible though the boom. The boom mast and equipment require on-condition maintenance only.

The ARBS boom design provides a geometrical envelope three times larger than that of the KC-135 facilitating safer contacts and refuelling operations.

The ARBS is a flight proven and mature system as more than 1035 contacts have been made with various receivers (F-16, E-3F AWACS and KC-30A) up to September 2010.

The fuel flow rate of the ARBS is up to 1200 US gal/min (4600 l/min) at 50 psig, making it the most capable new generation flight proven boom available today. This high rate of fuel transfer greatly reduces the refuelling operation time.

Cobham 905E Under-wing Pods

The 905E under-wing air refuelling pod is based on the highly successful Cobham 900 series of refuelling systems, already qualified to refuel NATO and allied probe-equipped receivers such as the Eurofighter, F/A-18 Hornet or Sukhoi 30.

The 900 series wing pods incorporate a digitally controlled, electrically operated hose drum unit and benefit from the heritage of the inventor of hose and drogue refuelling system.

The wing pods are controlled from the Air Refuelling Console located in the flight deck.

The 905E under-wing pod is a flight proven and mature system as more than 245 contacts have been made with F/A-18 Hornet fighters up to September 2010. The system has been certified for daylight operations in May 2010.

The pair of under-wing pods allows simultaneous hose and drogue refuelling at a wide range of speeds.

Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit

The Cobham 805E FRU is a removable hose and drogue unit mounted in the rear fuselage of the aircraft. It is based on the modular architecture of the 905E wing pod which greatly facilitates training and maintenance.

The Fuselage Refuelling Unit can refuel large aircraft with the probe-and-drogue system such as the Airbus Military A400M.

The FRU is controlled from the Air Refuelling Console located in the flight deck.

It can also refuel receivers with a different fuel type which would allow refuelling receivers with NATO fuel type on wing pods and receivers with alternative fuel type from the FRU.

Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI)

The aircraft can be equipped with a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI), compatible with boom nozzles complying with US/NATO standards which further increases its interoperability.

The UARRSI allows the A330 MRTT to be refuelled from tankers equipped with a boom system at the high fuel flow rate of 1200 US gal/min (4600 l/min) at 50 psig.

The UARRSI is a flight proven and mature system as more than 390 contacts have been made with various tankers (A310 Boom Demonstrator, C-135FR and KC-30A) up to September 2010.

To perform night and adverse weather operations, the receptacle is illuminated and markings located around the refuelling receptacle are provided.

Airbus Military Enhanced Vision System

The A330 MRTT is equipped with an advanced technology 2D/3D high definition/digital Enhanced Vision System (EVS), which ensures a complete view of the receiver aircraft in formation prior to, and during, refuelling operations.

The EVS is based on a comprehensive suite of high resolution cameras (two inspection cameras and up to 5 cameras installed in a box located underneath the rear fuselage) which provides a 180º situation awareness.

The cameras are located to provide images of the left/centre/right rear views and are controlled from the Air Refuelling Console.

Night and adverse weather missions are also possible using this vision system, through laser based infrared lighting systems, which provides a high degree of definition.

To optimize the coordination with the rest of the crew, images can be displayed on the Air Refuelling Console screens and/or on screens (OITs) in front of the pilots.

For post-mission analysis and as an aid for training purposes, a high resolution video recording capability is available.

Airbus Military Air Refuelling Console

The AAR systems are controlled from an advanced Air Refuelling Console that is positioned in the flight deck which optimizes the coordination with the rest of the crew and allows the Air Refuelling Operator (ARO) to perform his job in a more comfortable position.

The Air Refuelling Operator can control the following functions from the same device which optimises his operational efficiency:

• AAR Systems (ARBS, wing pods, FRU)
• Fuel offload quantities
• Video system
• AAR Lighting system
• Communications
• Mission planning system and tactical datalink.

A second seat at the console will facilitate training and observation, and can also double as a Mission Planning System Operator.

Operations of the boom (where installed) are more precise than current systems due to fly-by-wire controls and electrical actuators, and together with an Enhanced Vision System, result in a much reduced ARO workload.